McHenry County Blog

Given

• his high profile as the Democrat for reporters to go to when they want a hostile comment about Governor Rod Blagojevich,


• his family's financial resources, plus


• the statewide contacts established by his father Herb Franks, not to mention


• his high profile service in the General Assembly since 1999,

it is not a big surprise that State Rep. Jack Franks might be considering running for governor.

Franks has little to lose.

If Attorney General Lisa Madigan decides to run for governor, Franks could easily decide to run for her office.

Bringing on this article are snippets in two Michael Sneed columns in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Sunday, Sneed wrote that Blagojevich's father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Dick Mell,

"...is co-hosting a fund-raiser for his fishing buddy and good pal state Rep. Jack Franks on June 23 at Sullivan's Steakhouse, where Franks is expected to announce plans to run for governor!"

The fact that Mell was co-hosting a fund raiser for Franks is not in itself big news.

The prediction of an announcement in Chicago for governor was.

Tuesday, Sneed reported hearing Mell

"...took exception to Sneed's item about Mell raising funds for state Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), who is eyeing a bid to run for governor.

"• • Quoth Mell: 'I've raised money for Jack for 10 years ... and NOT because he is running for governor.'

"• • Quoth Franks: 'I am eyeing a bid for governor. But Dick has raised money for me for years ... and this fund-raiser was not just to raise funds for that race.'"

McHenry County Republicans put up no candidate to run against Franks this year, so he is free to spend anything he raises to run for statewide office.

So, what Republican will want Franks' legislative seat if he decides to roll the dice for statewide office?

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Michael Sneed's column has a head shot of State Rep. Jack Franks with a beard, similar to the one you see above from this article.

By three weeks later, the beard was gone.

Labels: Beard, Dick Mell, Herb Franks, Jack Franks, Michael Sneed, Rod Blagojevich

I have previously suggested that when one sees one's legislator being quoted by Chicago media, that's impressive.

I know I was impressed the first time I saw former Crystal Lake State Rep. (then, State Comptroller and Appellate Judge, now Federal District Judge) George Lindberg on Chicago TV.

So, State Rep. Jack Franks' constituents can be excused for being impressed with seeing Franks face on the front page of the Chicago Tribune.

He wasn't there because he won a great legislative victory.

Actually, he was there because he lost and the Chicago Tribune wanted to stick it to Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The Tribune has been campaigning without mercy to put a recall constitutional amendment on this fall's ballot.

No such luck.

The governor bought off too many Democrats in the state senate.

So, what does Franks do with this follow-up on his bulk purchase of prescription drug idea, which, incidentally, didn't seem to live up to its hype?

I figure Franks will run for a statewide office.

Of course, he would have the active opposition of Senate President Emil Jones in any such effort, but Franks is one who might be willing to role the dice.

You do notice that he has dumped the beard he was wearing the last time he was in the Chicago media spotlight.

Since the Democrats don't have any farm team in McHenry County, that means his district can probably be recaptured. So what Republican wants to drive 3½ to 4 hours each way to and from Springfield in return for virtually no influence?

Labels: 63rd District, Beard, Jack Franks, Recall

Most politicians have figured out that the public is less accepting of men with beards than those who are clean-shaven.

So, imagine my surprise to see a bearded State Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) on television Tuesday night before last arguing for his constitutional amendment to allow the recall of statewide officers, plus state legislators.

You will remember that last week he stripped out recall of judges.

When I looked at the black and white version in the Chicago Tribune, he resembled Roger Stanley, the former GOP state representative who admitting bribing Crystal Lake Illinois State Medical Society super lobbyist Don Udstuen in Udstuen's role as a member of the Metra board.

But Roger Stanley had bigger hair though.

Could the beard have been grown with a premonition that Franks would have no fall opponent?

Regardless, the deadline has passed and the McHenry County Republican Party has again failed to field an opponent for Franks.

Even though its new chairman is State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake).

This is the second election in a row that the McHenry County Republican Party has given Franks a free ride.

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The picture of a broadly smiling State Rep. Jack Franks was taken at a budget hearing on March 19, 2008. The one of State Rep. Mike Tryon was taken at the Algonquin Township Republican Central Committee candidates' night before the February 5th primary election. Tryon was the McHenry County Republican Central Committee's presumptive chairman at that point.

Labels: 63rd District, Beard, Jack Franks, McHenry County Republican Central Committee, Mike Tryon, Recall